Swivel joint for pipes



June 2, 1931. 5, PLUMMER I 1,808,066

SWIVEL JOINT FOR PIPES iled Sept, 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, 1931. s. G. PLUMMER SWIVEL JOINT FOR PIPES Filed Sept. 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 2, 1931 r; i V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY G. PLUMMER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIAi I SWIVEL JOINT FOR. PIPES v p I Application filed September 10, 1929. sem No. 391,559; The invention relates to an improvement line 8 with the discharge pipe "9 of a floating in swivel joints particularly designed for hydraulic dredgerll, the latter being shown use in connecting large pipes. only in, fragmentary outline, The pipe 9 is An object of the invention is to provide a seen tobe fixedly mounted on the dredger 5 .swiveljoint for pipes in which the pipeelethrough being clamped to a saddle, block 12 55 An added ob'ect of theinvention is to bring relations are seen to be usual ones, the joint ments at the joint are: arranged to be supon the dredger with an end thereof adjacent ported in place independently of each other .an edge of the. dredger, The end portion of whereby weight strains are avoided at the the pipe line which is to be connected with joint. the pipe 9 is seen to comprise a pipe 1% fixed Another object of the invention is to proto an adjacent pipe 16 by means 0. axflexi'ble 0 vide ajoint of the character described which joint The pipes 9 and 14 are in the present is effectively sealed against the leakage of instance provided with end flanges '17-and fluid therethrough. I 18 respectively for connection to the swivel A further and more specific object of the joint 7 and areboth ,subject'to movement in invention is to provide a swivel joint .of the planes parallel to the surface of the support character described which is particularly ing waterand at dilferent levels with respect adapted for use with a floating dredger pump to said surface, with the flanges 17 and 18 for connecting a relatively movable intake defining vertical planes. To meet the foreor discharge pipe to the pump. 7 going relations of the pipes 9 and 14, which about a new combination .and corelation of 7 is .of ofi'set type wherein the axial lines parts in a device of the class described-whereof intake and discharge to and from the joint by marked economies in manufacture will be are relatively movable in spaced parallel effected andthe life and efiiciency of the deplanes and about an axis perpendicular to vice will be enhanced. g v I said planes and intersecting said lines. 75 The invention possesses other objects and Referring now more specifically to the features of advantage,some of which, with structure of the joint 7 wherein the present the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent invention specifically resides, it isseen that in the following description of a preferred said joint comprises cooperatingupper and form of the'inventionwhich is illustrated in lower elbow members 21 and. 22 respectively 80 the accompanying drawings, inwhich: having flanged rendrs2c3 and 24.- forifixing to Figure 1 is a plan view showing the joint in the pipe flanges 17 and 18, The abutting use for connecting a pontoon-supported pipe ends of the members 21 and 22 are provided line with a pipe on a dredger barge. with'opposed annular and radial flanges 25 Figure 2 is aside elevation of the installaand26 respectively which abut to define'a tion shown in Figure 1. j plane parallel to theplanes of relative move- Figure 3isan enlarged fragmentary plan ment of the before-mentioned axial lines of view of the upper end of alower joint memintake and discharge of the joint 7. 1 her and a centering ring therefor. I Means are provided for sealing the joint a Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical axial secthe abutment of the flanges 25-and 26, said 9 tion through the elements of the joint, said means being incorporated withthestructures section being taken on the broken'line 44 of said flanges. As particularly shown, the 'in Figure 1. v 7 flange 25 is provided at its lower face with Figure 5 is a fragmentary section at 5+5 an integral annulus- 27 which extends both in Figure/i. i axially from said face and radially outward- Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken 1y of the peripheral flange face 28. The upgenerally at 6-6 in Figure 4 per face of the fiange 26 is provided with an By way of illustration, a swivel pipe joint annular groove 29 for the complementary re- 0 7 embodying the invention is shown in use ception of the annulus 27,-and lsfurther profor connecting a pontoon supported pipev cled with. anaxlally directed integral an.- 3

suitable packing 33, saidpacking being placed on top of a wear-ring 34 which is disposed in the bottom of the space. the space 32 are machined and the packlng 33 is preferably of an hydraulic type whereby a' properwater seal is provided thereby. For compressing the packing 33 in the space 32, a gland ring 34 is mounted on the top of the annulus 31 for engagement with the top of the packing; as shown, the ring 34 1s perforat-ed to receive stud bolts 35 extending from ,coaxial 36 engagingsaid bolts.

sail annulus and is'held in compressive engagement with the packing by means of nuts I In this manner, the swivel joi t is sealed and the axial separation of the'members 21 and 22 is resisted by the packing; V

Means are preferably provided for positively maintainingthe flange 26 in axially aligned relation to the flange 25, and said means will now, be described. The flange 26 is seen to extend beyond the outer peripheral face.'37 of the annulus 31fthereof and a retainer ring 38 is coaxially disposed on said extending flange portion. {The bore ,face 39 ofthe ring 38 and the face 37 are machined andbearing rollers41 are'mounted between said faces whereby the flange 26 is held for rotation within the ring 38; For retaining the rollers '41 in the race-way now described, a cover r1ng 42 is mounted on the retainer ring 38 to overliethe upper roller ends, cap screws 43 being engaged through the cover ring'42 and in the ring 38 for-securing the former ring in its place. The ring 38 is provided at one side thereof with a base or foot 44 for fixedly securing'it to'the dredger 11, as by bolts 45. In this'manner, since the member 21 isalso fixedly related to the dredger, the ring 38 is held againstupjvard displacement and at the same time positivelymainta'ins the flanges 25 and'26 in axially aligned relation at all timesi, Since, as noted,-the member 21 is flxed,, said member might obviously comprise ,an integral extensionof the pipe 9 without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

*It will now be noted that any angles provided in, the passages46 and 47 of the respective members 21Vand 22 interfere with the flow of liquid therethrough-and that such angles are therefore desirably of minimum size. Accordingly, and as particularly shown, thefmembers, 21 and 22 are in'the form of substantially sixty [degree elbows whereby to minimize the flow-losses thereat.

The side surfaces of With such a structure, the flow line through the swivel joint is seen to obliquely intersect the plane of engagement of the flanges 25 and 26 whereby, if the passages 46 and47 were of circular section thereat, their bores would not always register as the member 22 is shifted about. Accordingly, it is preferred that the passages 46 and 47 be properly elliptical in transverse cross section adjacent their registering ends whereby they are'of like size and circular in their plane of abutment, said plane coinciding, of course, with the plane of abutment of the flanges 25 and 26. In this manner, a r'elative'rotation of the members 21 and 22 about the common. axis of their flanges does not alter the eflective size of the passage jointly provided by the members. Another advantage of the use of the aforesaid elbow members lies in the fact that the upper elbow 21 need not extend beyond the dredger as far as it were a ninety degree elbow similarly constructed as to the described swivel joint feature. The aforesaid provision for the use of swivel joint elbow members having angles of less than ninety degrees is seen as an important element of the present invention.

It will now be noted that theswivel joint provided between the members 121 and'22' lacksanyefl'ective anti-friction bearing means between the flanges 25 and 26 whereby it is necessary that the member 22 be pivotally supportedin its placeindependently of the member 21, and sucha mountingis accordingly provided. Essentially, andas shown, the mounting provided for thef member 22 comprises a bracket51 for fixingto the dredger, a base 52 carried bythe bracket, roller bearings 53 mounted. on said base, and a member 54 fixed to. the member 22 and carried on said roller'bearings 'whereby'the member 22 is arranged for supported rotation about the -.swivelling axis of the joint for permitting the disposal of the member 22in various angular relationsto the pipe 9 on the dredger, it being clear that the aforesaid axis is'that Of'thQ annular flanges 25 and'26.

Intersecting webs 55 depend from the under side of the member 22 to a base plate 56 which is parallel to theplane of abutmentof the members 21 and 22; V A cylindrical integral boss 57 extends downwardlyfromfth'e plate 56, the axis of said boss'coinciding with the aforesaid swivel axis. Themember 54 is seen to comprise a circular plate havinga central and depending boss 58 and. a depend' ing annulus 59 at its rim. The boss 58 is provided witlia bore-60 in which isfixed a depending stub shaft 61 as by a pin 62.. It will now be notedlthat the base plate 56 is arranged to seaton' and be held to the member 54,'an d for this purpose the bore 60 is counterbored from above whereby to receive the boss 57. in fitted engagement while the remaining member 54 is provided somewhat below its opposed surfaces of the plate 56 and member 54 engage. In this manner, the member 54 is arranged for mounting in axially centered relation to the swivel axis of the member 22,

bolts 63 being engaged through the member 54 and plate 56 for fixing these elements together in said centered relation.

The base 52 is seen to comprise a plate 64 having an upwardly extending integral annulus 65 of the same circumferential size as the annulus 59 of the member 54. A boss 66 extends upwardly from the plate 64 in coaxial relation to the annulus 65 and said latter boss is axially perforated to provide a bore for the rotatable reception of the shaft 61 whereby the axial alignment of the annuli 59 and 65 is provided for. The roller bearings 53 are seen to be axially perforated and are carried by a spider frame which includes a central body portion-67 centrally perforated to rotatably receive the shaft 61 and mounted on said shaft between the bosses 58 and 66 in supported engagement with the latter. The spider arms are seen to comprise shaft bolts 69 extending radially from the body and having the rollers 53 mounted on the outer ends thereof. The rollers are held in operative position on the shaft bolts 69 between spacing sleeves 71 mounted on the bolts 69 and a spacing ring 72 through which the outer and threaded bolt extremities extend for receiving nuts 73.

It will now be noted that the rollers 53 and their mounting comprise a unitary anti-friction element and that the line of rollers is engaged between the opposed edges of the annuli 59 and 65 whereby the former is supported on the latter. The bearing edges of the annuli 59 and 65 are, of course, shaped in a complementary manner to the roller sur faces; in the presentinstance, the rollers are seen to be conically tapered inwardly thereof.

Means are preferably provided for positively securing the base 52 and member 54 against relative lateral displacement. As particularly shown, the annulus 59 of the top with an outwardly extending radial flange 74 providing a supporting step 75. A retainer ring 76 is mounted on the step 75 in coaxial relation therewith and cylindrical bearing rollers 7 7 are engaged in vertical position in the space defined between the annulus 59 and ring 76, said space defining a raceway for the rollers, and the opposed surfaces of the annulus and ring being machined to provide bearing faces for the rollers. The retainer ring 76 carries thereon a cover ring 78 fixed thereto by means of cap screws 79 and extending inwardly. to overlie the rollers 77 for retaining them in the aforesaid raceway. Means are provided on the ring 7 6 for fixing the same to the dredger, and as shown, such means comprises the formation of the ring to provide a tangentially directed base shown) whereby portion 81'whereby the ring may be fixedly secured to thedredger. 7

Referring now bracket 51, it isseen that said ,member provides a shelf 82 for receiving the bottom of the base 52 and an integral upper extension 83 to which the-base portion 81 of the ring 76 isarranged to bebolted. Preferably, and as shown, the base member 52 is provided at its outer edge with a flange 84 extending transversely. and tangentiallytherefrom, and the bracketis provided with an intermediateand upright web 85, against and to which the flange 84 isarranged to be bolted. In this manner, the members 52 and 54 are arranged to be secured in the required fixed relation, it being obvious, however, that the specific mounting means for these members is generally'immaterial to the purposes of the pres ent invention. i I 7. Means are preferably provided for lubrir eating the swivel joint and the rollers 53. As shown, the upper side of-the flange-25 is formed to provide a cup- 86 from which a duct 87. leads through the annulus 27 of the flange 25 for gravitationally delivering a fluid lubricant (notshown'). to the groove 29 of the flange 26. .A flange, 91 extends upwardly from along the outer edges of the base 52 to a level abovethat of the rollers'53 to provide, a Well for afluid lubricant .(not the rollersmay constantly operate in said lubricant. As; shown,-the

flange 91 comprises astrip of sheet metal .flxedto and around the free edges of the base plate 52by means-ofcap screws 92. From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

themadvantages 'of' the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of ope-ration, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. In aswivel fitting for connecting pipes, a pair of tubular elements having opposed ends thereof providing annular radial to the structure of the radial flanges engaged in co-axial'and abuts ting relation for fixed axis, pac flanges and anti-friction means cooperative with one of said flanges to maintainthe same with theother flange.

in co axial alignment 3. A swivel connection between a fixed conduit and a movable conduit comprising an outwardly and upwardly extending flange on the fixed conduit, an outwardly and up- Wardly extending flange onthe movable conduit to surround shoulder on the outer periphery of said sec- "ond flange, anti-friction means supported by said shoulder, and a retaining ring surroundsaid anti-friction means'and fixed with ing relation to the fixed conduit. 7 r

4. A swivel connection between a fixed conduit and a movable conduit comprising an outwardly and upwardly extending flange on the fixed conduit, an outwardly and upwardly extending flange on thermovable conduit to surround said first named flange and spaced therefrom,

ported by said shoulder, and a retaining ring surrounding said anti-friction means and fixed with relation to the fixed conduit.

5. In a swivel connection between a fixed pipe elbow and a rotatable pipe elbow, sup- 1 porting means for said rotatableelbow, said supporting nection, anti-friction means operative between the elbow and the pivotal support, and other anti-friction means to maintain the elbow in co-a-xial alignment with the support.

In testimony e SIDNEY G. PLUMMER.

relative rotation about a 7 'ng means between said said first named flange, a

packing means in said space, ashoulder on the' outer periphery 0t said second flange, anti-friction means supmeans comprising a pivotalsupport co-axlal wlth the axls of the sw1vel conwhereof, I afiix my signature. 

